Molecular will be replaced!?

[Hollywood Traveler]

Some things we observed are beginning to make this make sense in light of what you say about the contract expiring.

All of our bartenders were making their own concoctions (which they let us try out and some were VERY good, BTW) for an upcoming "contest".

I'm wondering (and hoping!!!) that only the name may change but the concept will continue without Junior Merinos affiliation.

 

Wow! Great call, Karen. And you beat the "official" announcement. Maybe someday in the future we can meet at the New Molecular Bar.

[chaching]

We were on the Reflection in November and that was by far our favorite bar with great drinks! We'll have to check and see what they come up with next.

Cheers!

[schlocklate]

Hi all,

 

The Molecular Bar is currently operated by a 3rd party vendor - Junior Merino. We have decided to not renew our contract with him, and therefore as the drinks were licensed, we will be unable to serve the same specific drinks in the future. In the next 90 days, we will be migrating to a new, but somewhat similar experience and will continue serving specialty drinks in this venue. At this time, we can't reveal our new partnership, any of the new drinks, or if we will continue to call it "The Molecular Bar."

 

However, we are confident that guests will enjoy this new and exciting bar that we will be introducing.

 

Awesome. Thanks for the response. Any chance you will be extending the new concept to the M-Class Ships over the next year? Love Love Love S-Class but it does not always work out (just Love Love M-Class) and Love Molecular - truly part of Celebrity's different experience.

 

-Terry

[flyingv4me]

Darn. No more Kentucky Derby. :(

 

Here's hoping the new venue and drinks live up to the quality of the current Molecular Bar. I guess I'll give it a shot in August!

 

Now to go hunting for the recipe for the KD so I can make them at home!

[CHUCKIE50]

Hi all,

 

The Molecular Bar is currently operated by a 3rd party vendor - Junior Merino. We have decided to not renew our contract with him, and therefore as the drinks were licensed, we will be unable to serve the same specific drinks in the future. In the next 90 days, we will be migrating to a new, but somewhat similar experience and will continue serving specialty drinks in this venue. At this time, we can't reveal our new partnership, any of the new drinks, or if we will continue to call it "The Molecular Bar."

 

However, we are confident that guests will enjoy this new and exciting bar that we will be introducing.

Thank yo very much for posting this. I can't wait to see how this will play out.

[ailetoile]

Darn. No more Kentucky Derby. :(

 

Here's hoping the new venue and drinks live up to the quality of the current Molecular Bar. I guess I'll give it a shot in August!

 

Now to go hunting for the recipe for the KD so I can make them at home!

 

Here you go:

 

http://www.theliquidchefinc.com/#!cocktails/zoom/c1p9k/image6vf

 

We were on an Excite the Senses cruise with Junior Merino a few years ago and he handed out the recipe on cards. We've made it a few times from ingredients that we found at home (including some makeshift bitters) and we got the flavor pretty close to what we had on the ship. I hope that you enjoy, too :)

[gryffin123]

Crossing my fingers that the new concept will be as good as Molecular. It was also the main reason my husband and I chose to upgrade to Premium. I tried a couple of drinks at the Martiini bar and both were too strong for my taste. I've liked everything I tried at Molecular and am sad that I didn't try more on our last cruise. Our next S-class isn't until 2016, so our last cruise was our last chance.

 

We were on the Reflection last week and it was mobbed every night with 3 very busy bartenders. We often grabbed cocktails here and brought them with us to dinner.

[DYKWIA]

Realised on the last day of our 14 day cruise on Eclipse that the 5th Deck, where The Molecular Bar is, was probably the place we visited least, hardly ever in fact. The presence of The Photo gallery, Art Auction gallery and Faberge Egg Shop don't really appeal to us. Had it been where The Passport Bar was or near the Casino it might have been different

[chamima]

Realised on the last day of our 14 day cruise on Eclipse that the 5th Deck, where The Molecular Bar is, was probably the place we visited least, hardly ever in fact. The presence of The Photo gallery, Art Auction gallery and Faberge Egg Shop don't really appeal to us. Had it been where The Passport Bar was or near the Casino it might have been different

 

 

Interesting.

Because we eat in Blu the 5th floor is the one we use most often to traverse the ship.

Between Blu, the Ensemble Lounge with my husband's scotch, the Molecular Bar and Cafe El Bacio it had everything we needed.

 

We hardly ever walked across 3 or 4.

[LetsGetWet!]

Hi all,

 

The Molecular Bar is currently operated by a 3rd party vendor - Junior Merino. We have decided to not renew our contract with him, and therefore as the drinks were licensed, we will be unable to serve the same specific drinks in the future. In the next 90 days, we will be migrating to a new, but somewhat similar experience and will continue serving specialty drinks in this venue. At this time, we can't reveal our new partnership, any of the new drinks, or if we will continue to call it "The Molecular Bar."

 

However, we are confident that guests will enjoy this new and exciting bar that we will be introducing.

I find it rather upsetting that one can actually "license" a mixture of liquor and mixes. What's next, "I'm sorry, but you're not allowed to make that casserole, its licensed!!"

Here you go:

 

http://www.theliquidchefinc.com/#!cocktails/zoom/c1p9k/image6vf

 

We were on an Excite the Senses cruise with Junior Merino a few years ago and he handed out the recipe on cards. We've made it a few times from ingredients that we found at home (including some makeshift bitters) and we got the flavor pretty close to what we had on the ship. I hope that you enjoy, too

ESPECIALLY when the recipe is right there on a publicly accessible website!

 

I sure hope no one pops up to claim the "license" for margaritas! Reminds me of the high tech patent trolls...

Edited March 9, 2015 by LetsGetWet!

[parallax]

Maybe they will bring in Jon Taffer from Bar Rescue to consult.:)

[flyingv4me]

here you go:

 

http://www.theliquidchefinc.com/#!cocktails/zoom/c1p9k/image6vf

 

we were on an excite the senses cruise with junior merino a few years ago and he handed out the recipe on cards. We've made it a few times from ingredients that we found at home (including some makeshift bitters) and we got the flavor pretty close to what we had on the ship. I hope that you enjoy, too :)

 

thank you!!!!!! :)

[jenniebnyc]

I agree the bar has poor placement and signage, but the drinks are pretty tasty. It was the only place on this ship that uses fresh fruits and not sweet/artificial syrups, which is why I liked it so much.

 

I don't care what they do or what they name the new bar, just please keep the FRESH fruits and juices! I do not want a blue drink with artificial watermelon syrup, etc. Imo, gross.

[iMedic]

I find it rather upsetting that one can actually "license" a mixture of liquor and mixes. What's next, "I'm sorry, but you're not allowed to make that casserole, its licensed!!"

 

ESPECIALLY when the recipe is right there on a publicly accessible website!

 

I sure hope no one pops up to claim the "license" for margaritas! Reminds me of the high tech patent trolls...

 

I know, next thing you know Coke will start to protect their intellectual property....

[LetsGetWet!]

I know, next thing you know Coke will start to protect their intellectual property....

Lousy analogy, but thanks anyway... ;)

[Cruise a holic]

Say it isn't so, please...

 

Going on Reflection in two weeks and will keep my ears open!

Hope not true! Would love them to add a molecular bar to the M class ships!

[iMedic]

Lousy analogy, but thanks anyway... ;)

 

 

The guy has the right to protect his work. Hopefully celebrity will bring in another up and coming bartender who isn't afraid of chemistry.

Edited March 9, 2015 by iMedic

[Schmoe38]

Hi all,

 

The Molecular Bar is currently operated by a 3rd party vendor - Junior Merino. We have decided to not renew our contract with him, and therefore as the drinks were licensed, we will be unable to serve the same specific drinks in the future. In the next 90 days, we will be migrating to a new, but somewhat similar experience and will continue serving specialty drinks in this venue. At this time, we can't reveal our new partnership, any of the new drinks, or if we will continue to call it "The Molecular Bar."

 

However, we are confident that guests will enjoy this new and exciting bar that we will be introducing.

 

Sorry, but just want to be clear. We are sailing on Silhouette in April of this year. Is the Molecular Bar still in operation until the new bar is introduced or is it effectively shut down as we speak?

 

Randy

[bvocruise]

We sail on the Reflection in about 70 days. I hope the Molecular Bar is open but doubt it will be. It sounds as though Celebrity and their bar tenders have enough knowledge to make some similar type drinks. The royalty/fee they pay could be pretty steep. I do hope they keep the same type of ingredients.

 

We plan on keeping our premium beverage upgrade for now. Hopefully the Molecular Bar is open for at least 81 more days which is the end of our cruise.

Edited March 9, 2015 by bvocruise

[LetsGetWet!]

The guy has the right to protect his work. Hopefully celebrity will bring in another up and coming bartender who isn't afraid of chemistry.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion... Personally, I think granting "licenses" to mixed drinks - or food dishes whipped up in the kitchen from similarly standard ingredients - is absurd.

[bvocruise]

I wanted to try the Watermelon Felon and Ginger Mojito.

[nngardener]

Well, I'm glad to have some information about what's happening with the Molecular Bar. I guess I'll wait and see what the end result will be and make decisions from there. I really hope the new bar will using the same quality ingredients used previously.

[SNJCruisers]

Everyone's entitled to their opinion... Personally, I think granting "licenses" to mixed drinks - or food dishes whipped up in the kitchen from similarly standard ingredients - is absurd.

Don't know and really don't care whether you actually ever consumed one of the delicious concoctions at the Molecular Bar, but what made it unique is that the mixed drinks were NOT made with standard ingredients. Does your local watering hole serve drinks made with fresh grilled pineapple juice, agave nectar, passion ginger foam or hibiscus essence? Didn't think so......so Mr Merino has every right to license the specific ingredients to each drink he has come up with.

 

To compare what they serve at the Molecular Bar to the tuna casserole your mom made...that's absurd.

[LetsGetWet!]

Don't know and really don't care whether you actually ever consumed one of the delicious concoctions at the Molecular Bar, but what made it unique is that the mixed drinks were NOT made with standard ingredients. Does your local watering hole serve drinks made with fresh grilled pineapple juice, agave nectar, passion ginger foam or hibiscus essence? Didn't think so......so Mr Merino has every right to license the specific ingredients to each drink he has come up with.

 

To compare what they serve at the Molecular Bar to the tuna casserole your mom made...that's absurd.

Let's take your "special ingredients" then. I have a bottle of agave nectar in my fridge as we speak. Bought it at the grocery store a few blocks from my house and use it in margaritas & some other drinks fairly often. Pretty sure it's purchase price doesn't include any license fees for Mr. Merino. So happens my wife also bought a few fresh pineapple this week at the same grocery store to make some party centerpieces for her sister. If I were to cut a few slices, grill them & use the juice reduction I don't believe I owe Mr. Merino any license fees. We grow fresh mint & use a mortar & pestle to mince it & use the concentrated essence in mojitos. Coincidentally we also have several hibiscus plants in the back yard and could certainly do the same with a flower or two. Again, I'm pretty damn sure I wouldn't owe Mr. Merino any license fees.

 

I see that Mr. Merino sells bottles of a number of his "special ingredients" on his website and have absolutely no quarrel with that at all. But I'll stand my ground with my contention that to somehow "license" the drinks made with those ingredients is every bit as absurd as licensing a recipe that my wife (or a local restaurant) gets rave reviews about.

[hammo]

The guy has the right to protect his work. Hopefully celebrity will bring in another up and coming bartender who isn't afraid of chemistry.

 

Really ? - Chemistry ? :rolleyes:, protecting his work ?

Every chef uses recipies created by those who created the original dish , without fear of impunity. Who says a Ginger Mojito needs to be licenced.

Is there a royalty paid for a Dirty Martini each time its consumed?:cool: